The Princes of Wales's

This regiment had its origins in India and Canada, and from 1881, Ireland, when the former 100th and 109th Regiment's of Foot were joined as 1st ans 2nd Battalion's The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment, respectively.
Between 1761 and 1818 there were as many as five regiments which carried the number 100 for varying periods of time, all comparatively short, but only two of these corps were Irish. One, during its fourteen years of service had a fine record. It was raised in Ireland in February 1805, all officers and men were Irish and it was transferred to the British Establishment from 25th March 1805, its title ' The 100th County of Dublin Regiment '. On 19th March 1805 it left Ireland for the Isle of Wight, proceeded from there to Hasler Barracks ( Gosport ) in June, and thence to Canada in August. Between November 1805 when it arrived in Quebec, until May 1812 its headquarters moved many times, Montreal, Fort George, Three Rivers and back to Quebec. During May 1812 the title was changed to the 100th or HRH The Prince Regent's County of Dublin Regiment. during the war with the United States it fought many engagements, served as marines and distinguished itself at the capture of Fort Niagara and was subsequently granted permission to carry the battle-honour ' Niagara ' on its colours, from May 1815.

  Fort Niagara taken from the British side of the River Newark

After Waterloo when the 95th Rifles was taken out of the Line, the regiment was renumbered 99th, and so remained until the final disbandment on return to England in July 1818. The next forty years there was no regiment numbered 100. During the Crimean War an offer was made by Canada to the British Government to send troops for service in the Crimea, but this was thought unnecessary at the time. When during the Indian Mutiny a further offer to raise a regiment was made, it was accepted. Permission was given therefore in March 1858 to raise an Infantry regiment to be designated The 100th ( or Prince of Wales's Royal Canadian ) Regiment, and by the end of May, 1,200 men had been recruited. The new regiment was quartered in the citadel of Quebec. The Assistant Quartermaster-General in Canada, Baron George de Rottenburg, CB, was chosen as the first Lieutenant- Colonel Commanding in May, and he was assisted by Major R.A Dunn VC.
Alexnader Robert Dunn was a very interesting character. He had served in the Crimean War with the 11th Hussars and was the only person to be awarded the Victoria Cross during the famous charge known as " The Charge of the Light Brigade ". Dunn had gone to the rescue of Sgt Bentley, also of the 11th Hussars. He rode at and cut down three Russian Lancers who were attacking him from the rear, then dismounted and placed Sgt Bentley on his horse. A slap on its flanks sent it carrying Bentley to safety. He then went to the assistance of Private Levett, cutting down a hussar who was assailing him. He was decorated by Queen Victoria on the 26th June 1857. A man of fine physique, he was six feet two inches in height. He sold out after the war, and being a

wealthy retired to his estates in Canada. In 1858 he was gazetted Major in the 100th Foot, eventually succeeded to command by purchase, 29th June 1861, and was then the youngest Lieutenat-Colonel in the army. He exchanged to the 33rd Foot in December 1864, and died commanding that regiment during the Abyssinian War the same year, although the circumstances were not at all glorious and befitting a man who had so heroically won the Victoria Cross. He died on the 25th January 1868. He was found lying dead beside his gun during a shooting trip. An inquiry found that his death was ' purely accidental '.
By the time the regiment arrived at Liverpool in July 1858 - in three detachments, almost 500 men on each transport, the Indian Mutiny was over. The men had to be clothed in what was available in Canada at the time, and on arrival were wearing Kilmarnock forage caps, without diced borders, coatees of 1837 with short tails - ' too short to sit upon ' with blue facings and epaulettes. Sent down to Shorncliffe in August the regiment was thoroughly equipped and was later inspected by HRH The Duke of Cambridge who was ' agreeably surprised at its magnificent appearance '
On the 10th January 1859 HRH The Prince of Wales attended Shorncliffe Camp to present the first set of colours to the regiment. This was the first public ceremony performed by the future King.

 R.A Dunn V.C

The battle-honour ' Niagara ' awarded to the old 100th ( Prince Regent's County of Dublin ) Regiment, was emblazoned on this first Regimental Colour. In addition to the press reports where the Prince's presentation address was recorded in full, there were several pictures made of the event. Between 1859-1873 the regiment was to undertake the peace-time duties of any other infantry battalion, and so embarked on the 7th May 1859 and followed the stay in Gibralter by one in Malta untill 1866, and thence to Canada, where it received a tremendous welcome, returning to England on the 11th November 1868. The next six years were spent in England, before moving over to Dublin in 1874. The first tour of Indian duty commenced in 1877 and was to last for 17 years.
Whilst in India in 1881 the designation of the regiment became the 1st Battalion The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment ( Royal Canadian ) Whilst stationed at Fort William, Calcutta in 1887, new colours were presented by the Countess of Dufferin. The old colours were sent over to the Dominion of Canada and were deposited in the Library of Parliament, Ottawa. Dominion Day, 1st July was always regarded as a holiday with special celebrations. Large quantities of maple leaves were sent out annually from Canada to be worn in the headdresses on that day. The battalion returned home in December 1894.

Between 1761 and 1795 there were two regiments numbered 109, neither were Irish. The first was raised in 1761 and disbanded two year later, the second was a Scottish regiment: The 109th ( Aberdeenshire ) Regiment of Foot, raised in 1794 and disbanded in 1795.
The third regiment to eventually carry the number 109, the last incidentally in the numerical list of Line battalions and followed only by the Rifles Brigade, was originally the Honourable East India Company's 3rd Bombay European Infantry. The 3rd was made up of men from the 1st Bombay Fusiliers and 2nd Bombay Light Infantry, plus recruits from the Warley depot in Essex, between 1853-8. One of the early nicknames of the Corps was " The Brass Heads " referring to the fine physique of the men, seasoned by life in India. The Regiment was soon to receive its baptism of fire, joining the Central India Field Force under Sir Hugh Rose in 1857. During the Mutiny it was present at, and fought encounters with, Mutineers at the following locations: Rathghur, Baroda, Saugur, Garracota, the Pass of Muddenpur, Betwa, Jhansi, Loharee, Koonch, Muttra, Garowtee, Calpee, and Gwalior. It is said that at Koonch the temperature ranged from 115 to 130 degrees. The London Gazette, 21st October 1859 announced the award of the Victoria Cross to Private Frederick Whirlpool:

For gallantly volunteering, on 3rd April 1858, in the attack on Jhansi, to return and carry away several killed and wounded, which he did twice under a very heavy fire from the wall; also for devoted bravery at the assault of Loharee, on the 2nd May 1858, in rushing to the rescue of Lt Doune of the regiment, who was dangerously wounded. In this service Private Whirlpool received seventeen desperate wounds, one of which nearly severed his head from his body. The gallant example shown by this man is considered to have greatly contributed to the success of the day.

The battle-honour " Central India " was awarded for the regiment's service during the Mutiny period. Early in the 186os the regiment was brought up to strength, the reinforcements gained from an unusual source, men from the force known as The British German Legion, recruited in Germany and sent to England in 1855 for eventual service in the Crimea.